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(N0 Modem J. W. HAZEN 8: O. F. MERRILL.

TIN OAN MA HINE. No. 367,978. Patented Aug. 9, 1887.

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UNITED STATES PAT NT OFFICE.

JAMES w. HAZEN ANDOHARLEs F. MERRILL, or wOOnsrOoK, VERMONT.

'l lN-CAN MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of LettersPatent No. 367,978, dated Auguste; 1887.

Application filed May 10, 1887.

Serial No. 237.751. (N model.)

' To all whom it may concern.-

- and exact description.

, cam-plate for locking the sheet of tin in the Our invention relates to a machine for forming square tin cans; and it consists of the special construction of the" machine, as hereinafter described and claimed.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure l is a front elevation of the complete machine. Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation of the same, taken on the line 00 wof Fig.1.- Fig. 3 is a detail view of a portion of the former, showing the eccentric-lover for operating the machine. Fig. 4 is a detail view showing the lock for the hinged side bar of the main frame. Fig. 5 shows a modification of the former (J.

A represents a main crank shaft journaled in boxes at a, secured upon the main frame 13, and at its outer end in the hinged arm 13. Upon the shaft A is secured the square former 0, provided at one edge with the holder D,for one edge of thesheet ,of metal to be folded around the former O; The holder D in thisinstance is a plate of metal secu 'ed to the former (l and slightly offset therefrom to leave a shallow space to receive the edge of the sheet to be bent. For grasping the edge of the sheet to be bent against the holder D we fit in shallow recesses in the former G the sliding plates 1). The lower ends of these plates are slanted, as shown at b, and in contact with these inclined ends are placed the cams c c of the sliding plate E,held in a recessin the former G by the screws 0 0, passed through slots 0 o The slots 0 permit the plate E to be moved endwise, so that the cams a will force outward the plates 1) and cause their outer ends to clamp the sheet of metal to be folded firmly against the plate D. For

action of the spring E secured at one end to the end of the former O,and pressing at its opposite end against the stud e, secured to the lever E, as shown clearly in Fig. 3.

F represents a presserfoot or follower attached to the rods G G,held loosely in the arms h h of the blocks H H. Upon the rods G G are placed coiled springs J ,which act between the arms h and the pins i in the rods, so that these springs constantly press the follower F against the former O. In addition to the springs J ,we employ two other springs, J, for holding the follower in contact with the form. These are secured at their lower ends to the rod j, held in the two blocks H, and are attached at their upper ends to the cross-piece G, attached to the outer, ends of the rods G, as shown clearly in Fig. 1. V

The blocks H are slanted at their inner edges, and back of each block is placed a wedge, H, made fast to the main frame B, Aslot, (1, (shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2,) is formed in each'of the wedges H, and a slot, (2, is also made through the frame B,back of each wedge 11. Through the slots (1 d pass screws or bolts L, which screw into the blocks H and hold them in place, as will beunderstood from Fig. 2. By loosening these bolts L the blocks H may be raised or lowered to adjust the follower F both vertically and horizontally to suit formers O of different sizes.

In use, the edge ofasheet of tin to be formed into a square can-bodywill be inserted between the former G and the holding-plate D and the lever E reversed,which will cause the plate E to force the plates 1) outward and cause them to nip the sheet of tin firmly against the plate D. The former C will now be revolved by the crank A of the crank-shaft A. This will cause the follower F to fold the tin at the corners of the former and wrap it entirely around the form.- Themeeting ends of the sheet of tin will now be soldered together. This done, the follower will be held away from the form by a wire or rope, M, attached to the hook min the follower and passed thence over the pulley m and then down to a treadle. (Not shown.) The pivoted arm B will then be swung outward and the can-body slid endwise off from the former.

The arm B is held in closed position by a catch, 12*, and the shaft A is prevented from being turned in the wrong direction by a springeateh, 2, attached to the main frame B, and adapted to engage with the small stud p in the said shaft.

Instead of making the former C solid, as shown in Fig. 2, we may make it of a skeleton or open casing, as shown in Fig. 5, and at the corners the former is hollowed out, as shown at y, so that the sheet metal will be bent in sharper angles at the corners than when the former is made plain at the corners,as in Fig. 2.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The former G,provided with the plate D, in combination with the slanted plates 1), and the plate E, formed with the cams c, for mov- Witnesses:

FREDERICK O. SOUTHGATE, WARREN C. FRENCH. 

